From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Egbe Ayuk, says only 20 doctors and 938 nurses exist in secondary health facilities in the state.
Dr. Ayuk who disclosed this in Calabar said the paltry number caters for the state’s 3.4 million people and said the present administration is determined to reverse this.
He said the Governor Otu administration has approved the appointment of 31 medical doctors, 22 pharmacists and 153 nurses in his bid to address the manpower deficit in the health sector of the state.
“With a population of approximately 3.4 million people to grapple with a hitherto paltry number of 20 doctors and 938 nurses in the state’s secondary health facilities remained a worrisome situation that Governor Otu was poised to address.
“With the injection of new blood into the health sector through the employment of 31 medical doctors, 22 pharmacists and 153 nurses will in no small measure bridge the human capacity gap in the Health Ministry and equip the sector with the necessary manpower to carry out clinical activities in public health facilities across the state”, the commissioned said.
The health commissioner said development is a practical demonstration of the Otu-led administration’s commitment to the health and well-being of Cross Riverians.
He thanked the Governor for his gracious approval and emphasized that “the strengthened workforce would greatly impact on healthcare service coverage.
“It will further make possible the overarching necessity for availability, accessibility and quality of healthcare as the highest attainable standard which health depends on”.
The approval for the appointment, the commissioner added, has been transmitted to the State Planning Commission, Office of the Head of Service, and the Civil Service Commission for immediate commencement of the employment process.